Day 4: Deba to Markina-Xemein

26.8km (102.5km)
Friday June 9 2017
The pension in Deba was pretty run down, I was on the third floor and had to scramble up in the dark because the lighting system had been installed the wrong way round! I would have been tempted to query its 9/10 rating on booking.com if hadn’t been for breakfast this morning which was simple but perfect; freshly ground coffee and freshly squeezed juice with a warm croissant, the rating is well deserved after all.
Today the walk left the coast, as it heads inland for a few days. There were some steep climbs but after yesterday’s exertions it all seemed very manageable and enjoyable. There were extensive stretches of dirt roads and footpaths through woods but with plenty of great views over a changing landscape. The weather was much better too, still hot, well more humid, but no burning sun so much more pleasant to walk in. The day passed with no dramas I’m pleased to report. I saw a few ‘pilgrims’ along the way but on arriving at the Albergue in Markina-Xemein there are lots of them. They must get up very early because I haven’t seen any of the thirty plus folk here who have been on the same route for the last four days, and there was me feeling all smug about starting walking at 7:30am; this lot must be up and gone long before that. I’m in a room with ten others so I’m expecting a lot of snoring, at least I’ll have an opportunity to try out my fancy new earplugs and maybe get some sleep…hopefully if they work I’ll still wake up before everyone else has left the Albergue…